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<title>Scientific Data Access with NetCDF</title>
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<H1>NetCDF</H1>

<P>
NetCDF (network Common Data Form) is a set of software libraries and machine-independent data formats that support the creation, access, and sharing of array-oriented scientific data.  
</P>
http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/software/netcdf/

<p>
World Wind Geo uses the NerCDF library for Java http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/software/netcdf-java/
to access scientific data in various formats including:
</p>

<ul>
<li>NetCDF-3 (classic and large format)</li> 
<li>HDF5 (version 4.0 will be mostly complete, earlier versions are partial)</li> 
<li>OPeNDAP client/server protocol </li>
<li>GRIB version 1 and version 2 (ongoing work on tables)</li> 
<li>BUFR (limited - ongoing work) </li>
<li>GINI (GOES Ingest and NOAAPORT Interface ) image format</li> 
<li>GEMPAK gridded data (as of version 2.23) </li>
<li>DMSP (Defense Meteorological Satellite Program)</li> 
<li>NEXRAD Radar level 2 and level 3. </li>
<li>ATD's DORADE radar file format </li>
<li>ADDE client/server protocol (limited)</li> 
</ul>

<p>
To access a NetCDF data set simply select "Open Dataset" from the file menu
or point the built-in web browser to an OpeNDAP server for NetCDF. As soon
as you click an hyperlink the dataset will be opened in the NetCDF View.</p>

Here is a list of sample servers

<ul>
<li>COLA Climate Modeling Data Sets: http://dataportal.ucar.edu:9191/dods</li>
<li>COLA Weather and Climate Data Sets: http://monsoondata.org:9090/dods</li>
<li>US Global Ocean Data Assimilation Experiment (GODAE): http://www.usgodae.org/dods/GDS </li>
</ul>

<b>Note:</b>Currently data grids must:
<ol>
<li> have a 1D X and Y coordinate axes.
<li> be lat/lon or Lambert Conformal Projection.
<li> be equally spaced.
</ol>

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